Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a poor appetite; lacking the desire to eat: "biếng ăn" describes a state of not wanting to eat or having little interest in food.
   • Suffering from (a condition of) anorexia: In a medical or clinical context, it can refer to suffering from anorexia, particularly in children.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con tôi đang biếng ăn. (My child is having a poor appetite / is a picky eater.)
  • Trẻ biếng ăn cần được chăm sóc đặc biệt. (Children with poor appetites need special care.)
  • Chứng biếng ăn ở trẻ nhỏ là vấn đề phổ biến. (Poor appetite in young children is a common issue.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tình trạng biếng ăn": the condition/state of having a poor appetite.

  • Bác sĩ đang tìm nguyên nhân gây ra tình trạng biếng ăn của bé. (The doctor is finding the cause of the child's poor appetite condition.)

• "Biếng ăn sinh lý": physiological anorexia (a temporary loss of appetite linked to developmental stages in children).

  • Biếng ăn sinh lý thường xảy ra khi trẻ mọc răng. (Physiological anorexia often occurs when children are teething.)

Variants and Related Words

• Biếng (adj): lazy, reluctant. While "biếng" alone means lazy, in "biếng ăn" it specifically modifies the reluctance to eat.
• Chán ăn (adj): This is a more general synonym for loss of appetite, not limited to children. "Chán ăn" can be used for adults and may have broader psychological connotations.
• Ăn uống (v/n): eating and drinking. This compound word is related as it describes the act that someone "biếng ăn" is reluctant to do.

Synonyms

• Lười ăn: reluctant to eat (more colloquial, emphasizes laziness towards the act of eating).
• Kém ăn: eating poorly (emphasizes the reduced quantity or frequency of eating).

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The most common, everyday use of "biếng ăn" refers to a common, often temporary, condition in babies and children where they are fussy or reluctant eaters. It is a frequent concern for parents.
• Clinical/Medical Meaning: In a formal medical context, as shown in the reference, "biếng ăn" can be used to translate "anorexia" (e.g., - anorexia nervosa). However, in casual speech, it rarely carries the severe psychological implications of the eating disorder "anorexia nervosa" in English. The simpler translation "poor appetite" or "fussy eating" is often more accurate for general use.

1. (Chứng biến ăn) (y) Anorexia